Family woken by lightning strike

A gaping hole has been left in the roof of the house

A couple and their nine-week-old baby had a lucky escape when lightning struck the roof above the bedroom where they were sleeping.

Simon and Carole Murphy said their bed was only about 8ft (2.5m) below the bolt's point of impact on their home, in Edenbridge, Kent.

But they said their daughter Hannah "seemed to sleep through most of it".

Fire crews were at the house for more than four hours. Half the roof was damaged by the lightning and the blaze.

The ceiling of the second-floor bathroom in the three-storey home collapsed during the fire.

We can't go back into the property until it's been repaired Simon Murphy

More than 20 firefighters attended the incident, in Shires Walk, Edenbridge, at about 0630 BST on Sunday.

Mr Murphy said: "We were asleep so the first thing we heard was an enormous bang.

"It was certainly a very rude awakening.

"The roof is entirely unsafe now and we've been advised we can't go back into the property until it's been repaired."

The couple paid tribute to fire crews and Sevenoaks District Council for their prompt response to the incident.

Temporary council accommodation has been offered, although Mrs Murphy, who is on maternity leave from work, said she was considering going to stay with her parents in Scotland.